Should voting be made compulsory? Local pupils take on the big question during Welcome to Your Vote Week

Pupils from Katharine Lady Berkeley's School in Wotton-under-Edge stepped into the world of local democracy as part of Welcome to Your Vote Week, held in March.

This year’s national theme was ‘Why Voting Matters’, which encouraged young people to get informed, get involved, and get ready to vote. To bring this to life, Katharine Lady Berkeley's students took part in a lively mock committee meeting for the fictional Strudel District Council, where they debated whether voting should be compulsory.

Students followed the same procedures used in real council meetings. They experienced how formal debates work, how committee processes are managed, and how the roles of Chair, Vice Chair and Group Leaders help to guide decision making. They also saw how members of the public can submit questions to influence discussions.

District councillors, Youth Council representatives and council officers supported the students throughout the session, helping guide the discussions and presenting awards.

The debate itself was energetic and thoughtful, with students presenting strong arguments on both sides. The final vote saw eight students in favour of compulsory voting, 10 against, and 2 abstentions, showing a balanced mix of opinions and a clear understanding of the issue.

Cllr Kate Kay, Chair of Stroud District Council said:

“It was inspiring to watch local young people step into the roles that shape our democracy. Their confidence, curiosity and willingness to challenge ideas show exactly why engaging students in political education matters.

“If this is a glimpse of the future, our local democracy is in very safe hands.”

Over the coming weeks, the council’s Elections team will visit secondary schools across the district and Stroud College to run voter registration stands, talk to students about why voting matters, and help young people register to vote from age 16. Registering early means they will not miss out on taking part in their first election after they have turned 18.

Voter registration stands will also be held at:

·       Active Lifestyles Stroud on Thursday 7 April, 9am – 12 noon

·       Active Lifestyles Dursley on Tuesday 7 April, 3pm – 6pm

·       SGS College on Wednesday 22 April, 12.30 – 1.20pm.

Anyone who wants to register to vote or has questions about voter ID or the voting process is encouraged to come along.

Young people can find useful resources from the Electoral Commission at http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/learning

Young people can register to vote from age 16, even though voting itself starts at 18. Early registration ensures they will not miss out on their first election.

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